Knee skate and associated methods

ABSTRACT

A knee skate may include a rigid shell having a generally semi-cylindrical shape with an open rearward end, and a closed forward end. The closed forward end may have a radius of curvature substantially the same as the radius of the semi-cylinder. The skate may also include rearward and forward pairs of rolling castors carried by the shell. Each castor may include a shaft with the castor wheel depending therefrom. The skate may include rearward and forward pairs of mounts carried by the shell. Each mount may have a passageway therein for receiving a respective shaft of a castor. The mounts and shell may be integrally molded as a single monolithic body, for example, of a metal such as aluminum. The user may position his knee, with or without additional padding, into the knee skate and readily move about a floor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of construction tools, and,more particularly, to knee skates and associated methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain construction tasks may require a worker to work and move whilein a kneeling position, and possibly for an extended period of time. Forexample, the work may relate to flooring installation and/ormaintenance, such as for nailing tack strips, spreading glue or othermaterials on a floor, installing Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT), orrunning vinyl base, for example. Of course, other trades may findadditional uses for knee skates. Knee skates save time and wear on one'sbody from getting up and down and crawling around on one's knees.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,845 to Ferriter discloses a knee support forsupporting a kneeling person including a frame, a pad mounted on theframe and three wheel assemblies mounted on a bottom of the frame. Theknee supports may also be used with separate wheeled foot supports.Along these lines, U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,391 to Cooper discloses a pivotedknee skate comprising a wheeled leg rest and wheeled foot rest pivotallyconnected together. U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0094915to Warren discloses a rolling knee skate with a multiple-wheeled supportassembly including swiveling caster wheels.

Applicant believes that back in the late 1970's knee skates were soldthrough floor covering installer pro shops made out of a hard plasticusing castor wheels and rubber knee pad inserts. The problem with thehard plastic knee skates from the 1970's was found to be that they wouldget stress cracks and break in the area where the wheel housing met themain body. It is believed that due to such, these skates were only onthe market for about three years.

In addition, several knee skates, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,219,845 and Published Patent Application No. 2004/0094915 have threewheels and may be relatively unstable. Despite continuing developmentsin knee skates, the ruggedness, durability and stability of such devicesmay still benefit from further developments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background it is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide a knee skate that is comfortable,facilitates movement, is stable, and is rugged and durable.

This and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with thepresent invention are provided by a knee skate including a rigid shellhaving a generally semi-cylindrical shape with an open rearward end, anda closed forward end. The skate may include rearward and forward pairsof rigid mounts carried by the metal shell, and rearward and forwardpairs of rolling castors carried by respective ones of the rigid mounts.The closed forward end may have a radius of curvature substantially thesame as the radius of the semi-cylinder.

The rigid mounts and shell may be integrally molded as a singlemonolithic body, for example, for ease of manufacture and durability.For example, the mounts and shell may comprise metal, such as aluminum.

Each castor may include a shaft with the castor wheel dependingtherefrom, and may facilitate movement in 360 degrees. Each mount mayhave a passageway therein for receiving a respective shaft of a castor.The user may position his knee, with or without additional padding, intothe knee skate and readily move about a floor. The four castor wheelsprovide additional stability as compared to three-wheel versions as inthe prior art.

Each of the castor wheels may comprise a spherical castor wheel that isself-lubricating, and that has no exposed axle. The castor wheels mayalso be readily replaceable.

A method aspect of the invention is for making a knee skate. The methodmay include integrally forming a rigid shell having a generallysemi-cylindrical shape with an open rearward end and a closed forwardend with rearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts carried by the rigidshell, and connecting rearward and forward pairs of rolling castors tobe carried by respective ones of the rearward and forward pairs of rigidmounts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a workman using the knee skates inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a pair of knee skates as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the knee skate as shownin FIG. 1 with the castors removed for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the knee skate as shown inFIG. 1 with the castors removed for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments ofthe invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theillustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

With initial reference to FIG. 1, the knee skates 10 in accordance withthe invention may be used by a workman 11 performing a task, such as theillustrated task of spreading an adhesive 12 onto a floor 13. As will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, the skates 10 may have manyother uses and applications as well. The worker 11 positions his knee,with optional additional padding 14, into the knee skate 10 and mayreadily move about the floor 13.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2-4, the knee skate 10 includes arigid metal shell having a generally semi-cylindrical shape with an openrearward end 17, and a closed forward end 16. As shown in theillustrated embodiment, the closed forward end 16 has a radius ofcurvature Rce (FIG. 4) substantially the same as the radius Rcs (FIG. 3)of the semi-cylinder.

The skate 10 also includes rearward and forward pairs of rolling castors21, 22 carried by the metal shell 15. The castors 21, 22 are arranged atfour corners of the metal shell 15 for enhanced stability. Each castor21, 22 illustratively includes a shaft 21 a, 22 a with the castor wheel21 b, 22 b depending therefrom. Such castor wheels 21, 22 facilitatemovement in 360 degrees. As will be appreciated by those skilled in theart, each of the castor wheels 21, 22 may comprise a spherical castorwheel that is self-lubricating, and that has no exposed axle. The castorwheels 21, 22 may also be readily replaceable as will also be understoodby those skilled in the art.

The skate 10 also includes rearward and forward pairs of metal mounts25, 26 carried by the metal shell 15. Each metal mount 25, 26 has apassageway 29 (FIG. 3) for receiving a respective shaft of a castor. Themetal mounts 25, 26 and metal shell 15 may be advantageously integrallymolded as a single monolithic body for ease of manufacture anddurability as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The metalshell 15 and metal mounts 25, 26 may be molded of aluminum, for example,for strength and reduced weight. The metal shell 15 and mounts 25, 26may have a powder coated finish thereon. The knee skates 10 willaccordingly last a long time, and may only need occasional replacing ofthe castor wheels 22, 23.

A method aspect is directed to making the knee skate 10 and may includeforming a rigid shell 15 having a generally semi-cylindrical shape withan open rearward end 17 and a closed forward end 16 along with rearwardand forward pairs of rigid mounts 25, 26 carried by the rigid shell. Theclosed forward end 16 may have a radius of curvature substantially thesame as the radius of the semi-cylinder. The method may also includeconnecting rearward and forward pairs of rolling castors 22, 23 torespective ones of the rearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts 25,26.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Accordingly, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited tothe illustrated embodiments disclosed, and that other modifications andembodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A knee skate comprising: a rigid shell having a generallysemi-cylindrical shape with an open rearward end and a closed forwardend; rearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts carried by said rigidshell; and rearward and forward pairs of rolling castors carried byrespective ones of said rearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts. 2.The knee skate according to claim 1 wherein the closed forward end ofsaid rigid shell has a radius of curvature substantially the same as aradius of curvature of the semi-cylindrical shape of said rigid shell.3. The knee skate according to claim 1 wherein said rigid shell and saidrearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts are integrally formed as amonolithic unit.
 4. The knee skate according to claim 3 wherein saidrigid shell and said rearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts comprisemetal.
 5. The knee skate according to claim 3 wherein said rigid shelland said rearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts comprise aluminum.6. The knee skate according to claim 1 wherein each rigid mount has apassageway therein; and wherein each rolling castor comprises: a shaftreceived in a respective passageway; and a castor wheel depending fromsaid shaft.
 7. The knee skate according to claim 6 wherein said castorwheel comprises a spherical castor wheel.
 8. The knee skate according toclaim 1 further comprising a layer of knee padding carried by said rigidshell.
 9. A knee skate comprising: a metal shell having a generallysemi-cylindrical shape with an open rearward end and a closed forwardend; rearward and forward pairs of metal mounts carried by said metalshell; said metal shell and said rearward and forward pairs of metalmounts being integrally formed as a monolithic unit; and rearward andforward pairs of rolling castors carried by respective ones of saidrearward and forward pairs of metal mounts.
 10. The knee skate accordingto claim 9 wherein the closed forward end of said metal shell has aradius of curvature substantially the same as a radius of curvature ofthe semi-cylindrical shape of said metal shell.
 11. The knee skateaccording to claim 9 wherein said metal shell and said rearward andforward pairs of metal mounts comprise aluminum.
 12. The knee skateaccording to claim 9 wherein each metal mount has a passageway therein;and wherein each rolling castor comprises: a shaft received in arespective passageway; and a castor wheel depending from said shaft. 13.The knee skate according to claim 12 wherein said castor wheel comprisesa spherical castor wheel.
 14. The knee skate according to claim 9further comprising a layer of knee padding carried by said metal shell.15. A method for making a knee skate comprising: integrally forming arigid shell having a generally semi-cylindrical shape with an openrearward end and a closed forward end along with rearward and forwardpairs of rigid mounts carried by the rigid shell; and connectingrearward and forward pairs of rolling castors to respective ones of therearward and forward pairs of rigid mounts.
 16. The method according toclaim 15 wherein the closed forward end of the rigid shell has a radiusof curvature substantially the same as a radius of curvature of thesemi-cylindrical shape of the rigid shell.
 17. The method according toclaim 15 wherein the rigid shell and the rearward and forward pairs ofrigid mounts comprise metal.
 18. The method according to claim 15wherein the rigid shell and the rearward and forward pairs of rigidmounts comprise aluminum.
 19. The method according to claim 15 whereineach rigid mount has a passageway therein; and wherein each rollingcastor comprises: a shaft received in a respective passageway; and acastor wheel depending from the shaft.
 20. The method according to claim19 wherein the castor wheel comprises a spherical castor wheel.